Phone 910-457-4568/Fax 910-457-9427/e-mail pilot@southport.net __ Volume 67, Number 24 Sanitary district 1 Sacred Heart tap; Incorporation pros arj Rec expansion j Long Beach facility provides much for County ‘co-champs’ i hiro * M I * SS'-3t-,U> * OJdHH * M DO I n NJDd50ixi> 00i-3i•*■-mv™'' *.. Probably the only sunbather in Brunswick County on this or any other •• January 30, this lady took advantage of Friday’s sun, 60-degrce temperature and wind-dampening dunes on Bald Head Island’s West Photo by Jim Harper Beach for a moment of relaxation. The upcoming weekend forecast: February, but hopeful. Rededication will honor black Civil War soldiers By Holly Edwards Feature Editor Graves of two black Union sol diers will be rededicated Saturday at Southport’s John Smith Cemetery in observance of Black History Month. Vocalist Katiedawne Quirk will present songs from the Civil War era at 1:30 p.m. prior to the 2 p.m. rededication ceremony. More than 100 Civil War reenac tors from across the country will participate in the ceremony, which will feature the firing of artillery cannons, laying of wreaths at the graves, a performance by the Southport Community Choir and the presentation of American flags and Southport proclamations to five See Soldiers, page 10 School plan lacks support Year-round schedule not for southern area By Holly Edwards Feature Editor Parent support of a proposed year-round school calendar is not strong enough to imple ment the plan at Southport Elementary, Bolivia Elementary and South Brunswick Middle schools, officials decided this week. “There’s not a strong consensus for year round schools, and I think we need more than a mere majority,” said assistant superintendent of instruction Mary McDuffie. “But like most changes, people want to look at it in stages and See Schedule, page 7 YEAR ROUND Vs. TRADITIONAL EDUCATION I H \ n m SOUTH BOLIVIA BRUNSWICK SOUTHPORT elementary middle 4 aaemw YEAR ROUND EDUCATION 54% 44% 48% TRADITIONAL EDUCATION 46% 56% 52% Results of the vote taken at Bolivia Elementary, South Brunswick Middle and Southport Elementary. SBSD Capacity expected at startup By Richard Nubel Municipal Editor For all intents and purposes, Southeast Brunswick Sanitary District’s 500,000-gallon-per day wastewater management system — now under construc tion — will be at capacity on the very day it begins operation early next year. That fact prompted SBSD commissioners Monday morn ing to propose a moratorium on new development in the district. The moratorium idea will be presented to SBSD attorney James Prevatte for his opinion and advice. “Paperwise, we are at capacity now,” consulting engineer John McLaughlin told commission ers, meaning flow allocations to customers now are reaching the permitted capacity of the district See Capacity, page 10 -, What was done... County makes garbage plans By Terry Pope • County Editor For some towns, it means change, perhaps an adjustment or a step back to help mold the total package Brunswick County commissioners want under a new countywide garbage disposal plan the boarcj, is expected to approve February 16. “It’s a start,” said commission chairman Jo Ann Bellamy Simmons of District 4. “It’s not a solution. Right now, we’re just trying to get every citizen a roll-out cart and pay for that service. We hope this will also help clean up our county.” Rural residents who have never had the convenience of roadside collection typically offered in more urban settings are in for a change. It is not expected to add dollars to any one’s tax bill. Under the agreement ironed out by Ms. Simmons and District s county commissioner David Sandifer last week, Waste Industries , Inc. will collect and haul from the approximately 40,000 households The deal Will close all green box disposal sites as of July 1, and will include new tipping fees at county transfer stations and the construc tion and demolition landfill at Supply once a week for $10.98 each, appro priated from the county’s general fund. With the 18 municipalities cooper ating, the job can be done for $5 million, the same spent to have See County plan, page 6 Municipalities to absorb cost By Richard Nubel Municipal Editor Refusal to join in Brunswick County’s plan to bring once-a-week curbside refuse collection to homes countywide would more than dou ble the cost of solid waste manage ment in Long Beach, the town learned this week. “We’re between a rock and a hard place and we don’t have any options,” Long Beach mayor Joan Altman said. After meeting with representatives of the county’s 18 municipalities last week, county commissioners voted to establish tipping fees for municipally generated refuse. The tipping fees, to be charged munici palities for waste taken by the coun ty’s contractor to a Sampson County landfill, begin at $38 per ton for household waste. Long Beach town manager Jerry Walters said the tip ping fees were the last piece of information he needed to compare the cost of joining the county pro gram with the cost of providing the same service Long Beach has tradi tionally provided. “We have made a determination that is essentially what we thought was the case,” Walters said. “The cost of residential service will go up more than two and a half times if the county begins charging these tip Pilot wins dozen state press awards Every member of The State Port Pilot pews staff won at least one award in the NCPA News, Editorial and Photojournalism Contest this year. The awards were presented Thursday evening at The Friday Center in Chapel Hill. Gov. Jim Hunt and officials of the North Carolina Press Association participated in the ceremony. Photographer Jim Harper won tour awards and county editor Terry Pope three, while municipal editor Richard Nubel and feajure editor Holly Edwards received single awards from the judges. The newspaper won three “staff’ awards. The 12 awards were the most among newspapers in the Pilot’s divi sion — community newspapers circulation 3,500 to 10,000. “The awards represent the hard work of individual journalists as well as the overall commitment to making The State Port Pilot a newspaper of which this community can be proud,” said Ed Harper, editor. This marks the fifth time in six years the Pilot has led its division in number of awards. The Pilot adver tising staff has led the division in awards each of the past six years. Awards for the 1997 contest included: ■ First place, Appearance and Design -- Judge Michael Van Den Bradden said he was most impressed with the inside pages of the Pilot. “Turn inside and this publication is extremely reader-friend ly.... The use of good headlines, subheads and pull quotes added interest to the general layout of almost every page. Sections had great cover pages.... I felt like this paper was a comfortable friend in my home. Pride and craftsmanship showed throughout the publication.” See Awards, page 6 ‘For the services Long Beach resi dents now pay out of-pocket, the cost is going to be greater in a combi nation of taxes paid the county and fees paid the town.’ Joan Altman Long Beach mayor ping fees in July.” Walters said the 250-percent cost increase would cover only services Long Beach presently provides. It does not anticipate the recycling and yard debris collection programs the town has planned over the last year. Under terms of the county plan, each municipality has been asked to join in a contract with Waste Industries Inc. for once-a-week curbside pickup. The county will See Town impact, page 6 What’s inside Obituaries Police report Business TV schedule Schools Church page Calendar District Court Classifieds onwwwLft-ts-oo'-j NEWS on the NET: www.southport.net —